This past week for the Cougars we saw both softball and baseball compete. Softball had another great weekend with a sweep over New Mexico Highlands University. This takes them to 34 straight wins and we will see if they can snag four more this weekend at Regis! Baseball rallied this weekend and took some losses but are ready to compete against UCCS this weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Track and field had the weekend off but will start back up in Pueblo this week! Both golf teams will also start back up again this weekend in Arizona. 

Softball Recap

3/24 LAKEWOOD, CO – Conquering some last minute location changes, the Colorado Christian University Cougars increased their winning streak to 32 after taking two games from the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands. The double-header was played at "home" at Sheridan High School, with scores of 4-0 and 3-2.

GAME ONE

It was a tight contest between the Cougars and Cowgirls, with the score tied at 0-0 until the fifth inning. Colorado Christian scored two in the bottom of the inning after Kayla Middleton doubled, and was brought home after a single from Savannah Tourville and an NMHU error. Tourville crossed the plate for the second run when Kenzie Middleton hit a double. The final two runs for CCU came in the bottom of the sixth, and got started with a single from Taylor Olsen. Kaitlynn Martinez came in to pinch run, and made it home after a big triple from Miki Berg. Berg was the fourth and final run for the Cougars after Kayla Middleton grounded out.

Kali Crandall pitched all seven innings and tallied six strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The second game of the day was a close one, and the Cowgirls were eager to earn the first conference win against CCU. However the Cougars prevailed and finished the day with a walk off in the bottom of the eighth. Colorado Christian was the first on the board, after a single run in the bottom of the third which came after Savannah Tourville singled and was brought home on a triple from Sami Edwards. NMHU responded with 2 runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Kayla Middleton hit a homerun to tie up the game. In the bottom of the eighth, the pressure was on yet again with two outs on the board. Sami Edwards stepped up and hit a double, and made it home after Taylor Olsen singled to take the game.

Abrie Castillo was on the mound for CCU in game two, and pitched all 8 innings and secured 8 strikeouts.  

3/25 LAKEWOOD, CO – Completing the series sweep, the Cougars took two more games from the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands on Saturday afternoon. Battling their opponent and the wind, CCU won both games in the doubleheader with scores of 9-3 and 7-5.

GAME ONE

New Mexico Highlands was the first to score, landing two runs in the top of the first inning. With runners on first and second and 0 outs, Colorado Christian pitcher Kali Crandall struck out three Cowgirls in a row to put CCU behind the plate. Kenzie Middleton scored the one single run for the Cougars in the bottom of the inning after she walked, advanced after another walk and a fielder's choice, then made it home on a single from Logan Menzies.

The next 4 runs for Colorado Christian came in the bottom of the second, giving them the lead that they held onto the remainder of the game. Savannah Tourville and Kenzie Middleton walked, and Camryn Quilling hit a single to load the bases for Sami Edwards. Not letting this opportunity slip by, Edwards hit an inside the park homerun to claim a grand slam and put her team ahead by 3.

CCU had a quick turnaround after only three Cowgirls made it up to bat in the top of the third. Notching 2 more runs in the bottom of the inning, the Cougars steadily pulled away. Miki Berg got it started with a single, advanced to third on a single from Mikayla Oaks, and crossed the plate on a sac fly from Kayla Middleton. Another sac fly, this time by Kenzie Middleton, brought home the second run which was scored by Oaks.

It was another three up three down inning for NMHU in the fourth, and the Cougars responded with another pair of runs after Taylor Olsen singled and was brought home on a homerun from Mikayla Oaks. The Cowgirls got in one more run in the top of the sixth but were unable to overcome the strong CCU play.

Kali Crandall was dominant on the mound and struck out 12 to earn her 16th win of the season.

GAME TWO

 The NMHU offense was off to a tough start after only 13 at bats through the first four innings. Not giving up, the Cowgirls came in hot in the fifth inning and scored 5 to tie up the game.

Colorado Christian had another steady start, scoring 2 in the first after Kenzie Middleton singled, Sami Edwards walked, then Logan Menzies brought them home with a double. The next pair of runs for CCU came in the bottom of the third when Sami Edwards walked again, then advanced to third on a double from Taylor Olsen. Both runners made it home on a single from Miki Berg, putting the team up 4-0. The single run for the Cougars in the bottom of the fifth came after a pair of big hits – a triple from Kayla Middleton, then a double from Madison Zaro to bring Kayla home.

Finding themselves tied up going into the bottom of the fifth, the Cougars kept it exciting and responded with a pair of runs to take the lead back. With 2 outs on the board, Miki Berg hit a homerun to put the team ahead by 1. Mikayla Oaks followed with a double and was brought home right away when Kayla Middleton hit a double of her own. The CCU defense was locked in and faced only 6 batters in the last two innings.

Kali Crandall earned yet another win on the mound in the final game after pitching for the first 4.2 innings.

Baseball Recap 

3/24 LAKEWOOD, CO – The Colorado Christian University Cougars were dealt a doubleheader sweep by the #18 Mavericks of Colorado Mesa on Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE

The first two innings were a slow start for both teams, with not a single hit or run coming until the third. CMU scored a single run in the third to start their momentum, going on to score in every inning to take the victory 15-0. The Cougars tallied 5 hits from 4 different players but were unable to capitalize to make it home. Robby Caro took the loss on the mound after pitching 4.2 innings and tallied 4 strikeouts.

GAME TWO

 Carrying their momentum into the second game of the day, the Mavericks scored 10 runs in the top of the third to put them in a comfortable lead. CCU scored 2 runs on 3 hits in the bottom of the fifth to put them on the board. Major Maydon got the inning started with a single, and was followed by Luke Thompson with a single of his own. Saxton Sorenson then walked to load the bases. Maydon made it home on a double-play, and Thompson scored after a single from Frankie Shearn. Colorado Mesa tallied a few more runs to close out the game and kept CCU from scoring again, ending the game with a final score of 17-2. Pitcher Jake Gimbel had 4 strikeouts in the loss after pitching 3 innings.

The teams are slated to finish the series with another double-header on Saturday, March 25th with a start time of 12pm.

3/25 LAKEWOOD, CO – The #18 Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University took two more wins from the Cougars on a windy and cold Saturday afternoon.  

GAME ONE

It was a tough start for Colorado Christian on day two against CMU. The first inning of game three saw the Mavericks taking off and scoring 13 runs in the first inning. Colorado Mesa continued to chip away at their lead, finishing with 38 runs. The Cougars landed a single run in the bottom of the seventh, which got started on a double from Russell Cruz. Cruz then advanced to third thanks to a Dorian Pacheco single, then scored on a sac fly from Tucker Willingham.

GAME TWO

 The final game of the series saw the Cougars continue to fight despite the tough loss in game three. Colorado Christian got on the board in the bottom of the second thanks to Gabe Ramos hitting a homerun to start the inning. Another pair of runs for CCU were earned in the bottom of the sixth when Major Maydon singled, Aaron Morgan followed him with a double, then Maydon scored on a ground out from Caden Walton. Morgan then crossed the plate after Frankie Shearn singled. The fourth and final run for the Cougars came in the bottom of the seventh when Thompson homered to right field. The final score was in the favor of Colorado Mesa, 13-4.

Next up: The track team will begin our week off in Pueblo again. The meet will occur on Friday, March 31st, and Saturday, April 1st. The weekend sweep for softball puts the Cougars at 34-2 overall, and 24-0 in conference play. Softball will be down the road for their next series, playing at Regis University on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. Baseball will play at UCCS next on Friday, March 31st, for a four game series spanning over three days. Stay tuned!